Air mattress

ABSTRACT

An objective of the invention is to provide an integral air mattress capable of preventing caving-in. 
     To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an air mattress consisting of three sheets  1  to  3  stacked and airtightly sealed at their circumferential portions, the mattress comprising: first-layer air cells  6   a  and  6   b  consisting of tubular air cells formed widthwise by the first and second sheets  1  and  2 ; and second-layer air cells  8  consisting of tubular air cells formed widthwise by the second and third sheets  2  and  3 , wherein the first-layer air cells  6   a  and  6   b  and the second-layer air cells  8  are arranged so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction. The overlying first-layer air cells  6   a  and  6   b  are set at low pressure so as not to cause bedsores easily, while the underlying second-layer air cells  8  are set at high pressure so as not to cause caving-in easily.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to comfortable and safe air mattresses.

BACKGROUND ART

It is often the case that conventional air mattresses are provided in the form of an integral air mattress structured by the welding of front and back sheets thereof at each edge (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-308242 (FIG. 2)

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3290159 (FIG. 5)

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the case of using the air mattress as described above to prevent bedsores, the internal pressure of the air mattress is regulated to be low to enhance body pressure dispersion performance. In such a case, if the internal pressure becomes excessively low, caving-in might occur.

Also, in the cases of the edge structures as shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1 and FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2, when the air mattress is filled with air, its side surfaces are roundly inflated, and therefore a problem might occur where the buttocks slip off the air mattress easily when they are placed at the edge of the air mattress while attempting to rise therefrom.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an objective thereof is to provide an integral air mattress capable of preventing caving-in, thereby allowing the buttocks to be stabilized at the edge of the air mattress.

Solution to the Problems

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an air mattress consisting of three sheets stacked and airtightly sealed at their circumferential portions, the mattress comprising: first-layer air cells consisting of tubular air cells formed widthwise by the first and second sheets; and second-layer air cells consisting of tubular air cells formed widthwise by the second and third sheets, the side surface members each including two side surface sheets joined on their respective side edges such that the joined portion faces inward,

wherein the first-layer air cells and the second-layer air cells are arranged so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction; and

wherein the underlying second-layer air cells are maintained roughly at a predetermined internal pressure, while the overlying first-layer air cells are set at a lower pressure than the second-layer air cells.

In addition, the first-layer air cells are classified into two alternately arranged systems, such that the two systems are alternately inflated and deflated independently of each other, while the second-layer air cells are maintained at a predetermined internal pressure.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

The air mattress of the present invention has a dual layer structure in which the first-layer air cells and the second-layer air cells are arranged so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction, and therefore it is possible to regulate the first-layer air cells and the second-layer cells independently of each other so as not to cause bedsores easily, while preventing caving-in.

Concretely, the overlaying first-layer air cells hold the body of the user with low pressure, thereby making it possible to prevent bedsores. Simultaneously, the underlying second-layer air cells hold the body with higher pressure than the first-layer air cells, thereby making it possible to prevent caving-in.

Furthermore, when the air mattress is filled with air, the side surface portions have rectangular cross sections, allowing the buttocks not to slip off easily when they are placed at the edge of the air mattress while attempting to rise therefrom.

In addition, the first-layer air cells are classified into two alternately arranged systems, such that the two systems are alternately inflated and deflated independently of each other, thereby making it possible to cyclically change the position at which to support the body of the user to provide further bedsore prevention. In this case also, the second-layer air cells are regulated so as to be inflated with high pressure, thereby making it possible to inhibit caving-in.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A perspective view of an air mattress according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 A top view thereof.

FIG. 3 A schematic perspective view illustrating the bonding relationship of first through third sheets.

FIG. 4 A schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 A schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   -   1 first sheet     -   2 second sheet     -   3 third sheet     -   4 circumferential portion     -   5 first-bonding portion     -   6 a first-layer-system-A air cell     -   6 b second-layer-system-B air cell     -   7 second bonding portion     -   8 second-layer air cell     -   9 side surface product     -   9 a, 9 b side surface sheet     -   10 air mattress

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air mattress according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top view thereof; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the bonding relationship of first through third sheets; FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2; and the same or similar elements in the drawings are denoted by the same characters.

The air mattress 10 according to the present embodiment includes three flexible rectangular sheets, which are stacked together, from the top: first sheet 1, second sheet 2, and third sheet 3, and bonded at circumferential portions 4.

The first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 are bonded at first bonding portions 5, thereby forming first-layer-system-A air cells 6 a and first-layer-system-B air cells 6 b.

In addition, the second sheet 2 and the third sheet 3 are bonded at second bonding portions 7, thereby forming second-layer air cells 8.

The three sheets 1 through 3 are bonded at the circumferential portions 4. In FIG. 2, the first bonding portions 5 at which to bond the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 are indicated by bold lines, and the second bonding portions 7 at which to bond the second sheet 2 and the third sheet 3 are indicated by broken lines. The first and second bonding portions 5 and 7 are each arranged so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction. In addition, sloping arced portions between right and left air cell portions cause the bonding portions 5 and 7 not to overlap in the front-rear direction, as in Patent Document 2.

Since the first and second bonding portions 5 and 7 are bonded so as not to overlap with each other, the tubular air cells 6 a, 6 b, and 8 are formed with cross-sections not representing perfect circle segments but oval segments as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the regulation as described below can be effectively carried out, and the surface of the air mattress that contacts the body during use is semioval, so that there is less surface irregularity compared to typical tubular air mats, enhancing reclining comfort.

In addition, the side surface portions are each formed by a side surface product 9 obtained by welding two side surface sheets 9 a and 9 b once only on their respective side edges 9 c as shown in FIG. 5, and a non-welding material, such as an insulator or suchlike (e.g., a polytetrafluoroethylene film), provided at non-welded side edges 9 d of the side surface sheets 9 a and 9 b, the side surface product being disposed such that the welded portion 9 c faces inward between the side edge portions of the second sheet 2 and the third sheet 3, and the side surface portion has a rectangular cross-section when filled with air.

Accordingly, when the air mattress 10 is filled with air, the side surface portions have rectangular cross sections, allowing the buttocks not to slip off easily when they are placed at the edge of the air mattress while attempting to rise therefrom. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the hatched portion shown in FIG. 5 indicates the second-layer air cell 8 that has been subjected to the side surface processing as described above, and therefore is regulated so as to be always inflated with high-pressure, allowing further stable rising action.

During use, the first-layer-system-A air cells 6 a and the first-layer-system-B air cells 6 b are regulated so as to be inflated with low pressure in order not to cause bedsores easily, and the second-layer air cells 8 are regulated so as to be inflated with high pressure in order not to cause caving-in easily.

As a result, portions of the air mattress 10 that are in contact with the user are kept at low pressure so as to satisfactorily disperse body pressure. In addition, even if the first-layer air cells 6 a and 6 b at low pressure are heavily depressed by rolling over in sleep, the first-layer air cells 6 a and 6 b are supported with high pressure by the underlying second-layer air cells 8, making it possible to inhibit caving-in.

In another regulation method, the first-layer-system-A air cells 6 a and the first-layer-system-B air cells 6 b are alternately inflated and deflated independently of each other, thereby making it possible to cyclically change the position at which to support the body of the user to provide further bedsore prevention. In this case also, the second-layer air cells 8 are regulated so as to be inflated with high pressure, thereby making it possible to inhibit caving-in. 

1. An air mattress consisting of three sheets stacked and airtightly sealed at their circumferential portions, the mattress comprising: first-layer air cells consisting of tubular air cells formed widthwise by the first and second sheets; and second-layer air cells consisting of tubular air cells formed widthwise by the second and third sheets, side surface members being interposed and joined between their respective side edges of the second and third sheets, the side surface members each including two side surface sheets joined on their respective side edges such that the joined portion faces inward, wherein the first-layer air cells and the second-layer air cells are arranged so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction; and wherein the underlying second-layer air cells are maintained roughly at a predetermined internal pressure, while the overlying first-layer air cells are set at a lower pressure than the second-layer air cells.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The air mattress according to claim 1, wherein the first-layer air cells are classified into two alternately arranged systems, such that the two systems are alternately inflated and deflated independently of each other, while the second-layer air cells are maintained roughly at a predetermined internal pressure. 